From the diversity of voices

"Dr Abdul Waheed from Pakistan spoke about his family history and the journey that eventually led him to Germany. His father came to Germany in 1989; his route took him via the Netherlands to Bocholt. Waheed described key themes in his story: the Ahmadiyya community, reforms within Islam and dealing with discrimination in Pakistan in the 1970s and 1980s. He said that around 90 per cent of his experiences at school and university in Bocholt had been positive. He said the support he received from people who accompanied him on his journey - for example, through sport, voluntary tutoring or as teachers - had been particularly formative. There had also been a few negative experiences here and there. He eventually established himself successfully as an engineer. His conclusion: the move to Germany had a lasting positive impact on his life, both personally and professionally."

Ayla Erfidan, a native of Bocholt, spoke as a representative of the so-called "second generation", of travelling back and forth between Bocholt and Turkey, of starting school without any knowledge of German, of the journey via Izmir to visit her real grandmother, and finally of studying to become a teacher in Turkey - a path that ultimately led to her taking up a teaching post in Bocholt. After almost 25 years of teaching at a school in Bocholt, she now works with pupils from many different countries - a story that shows how integration through education succeeds by supporting children from diverse backgrounds, even if they still need to learn German.

Salah Bayoumy told a very different story: once an artist in Egypt, he came to Bocholt in 1990 and stayed - initially rather by chance. He praised the independence of the people of Bocholt, who are creative and practical in their approach, and reported that he had never had a bad experience here. Bocholt, he said, is a town where people help one another. For artists, he noted, it isn't easy at first, because the people of Bocholt do everything themselves, from baking pancakes to sculpting.

Coming from Ukraine, Alha Knieazefa spoke about a family whose situation was particularly shaped by language and schooling. Their needs ranged from having their vocational qualifications recognised to integrating into everyday life and education. The town is a place where help can be found, and where her son has been able to continue to develop despite initial difficulties.

Zeyneb Mohammady recounted her escape from Afghanistan in 2015 with her parents. The journey took them via Turkey to Bocholt, where, thanks to the help of a form teacher, they eventually found a home and further opportunities. Today she has settled in Bocholt and is passing on her experiences here - including in a professional context. Not only did she found the Afghan Hazara German Community association, but she is also actively involved as a member of the Committee for Equal Opportunities and Integration.

Christine Büning is originally from Berlin and fled to the Federal Republic of Germany via Hungary with her young daughter shortly before the fall of the Berlin Wall. She initially ended up in a socially deprived area of Frankfurt am Main. "'I didn't want to stay there with my young daughter'", said Büning. She was familiar with Bocholt from previous visits and set off for there. At the University of Applied Sciences, she saw a sign saying they were looking for staff. She applied and, after a while, was invited for an interview. "I got the job and was able to help build up the University of Applied Sciences", says Büning. Help was on hand straight away. "I was allocated social housing straight away, which wasn't a given", recalls Büning, adding: "As a working mum, there wasn't much time for socialising - apart from work. That's changed now; I'm active in lots of clubs and organisations."

Further voices, including artists who have made a name for themselves in Bocholt, offered additional perspectives through the exhibition "Schwere Schritte" at the Mohammady, where Ataf Chaudhry also shared his stories.

There was also a collective discussion about specific lessons learnt: reaching out to one another openly, seeing decentralised living as an opportunity, having the courage to approach strangers, and experiencing diversity together. Abdul Waheed emphasised the two-way nature of the process - newcomers also shape the local community and learners, whilst Ayla Erfidan described the culture of welcome as a key building block for a smooth settlement. Alha Knieazefa, from Ukraine, highlighted how important contacts and mutual support are, whilst Zeyneb emphasised that education in Germany is often accessible free of charge - a crucial prospect for future generations.

Outlook and messages

The participants emphasised that Bocholt can and must be proud of its diversity. The town decided to continue addressing the issue of new arrivals: advertisements, information sessions and other initiatives are intended to keep the dialogue going and break down reservations.

Ataf Chaudhry regards inner contentment as immensely important. "If I am content and grateful for what I have, I do not look for faults in others. At present, it seems that in Germany many people are dissatisfied and then blame others - the foreigners who have supposedly taken something away from us", says Chaudhry. Yet education is free in Germany and so much is possible. "We should remind ourselves much more often of the opportunities we have, and be grateful for them. If we felt more appreciation for what we've been given, perhaps we could look out for one another more and focus less on what divides us."

"We can see where this trend might lead, for example, in Saxony-Anhalt. There is a sense of anger there that is also being expressed through protest voting."

Gudrun Koppers expressed her gratitude for the event and praised Veronika Kampshoff as a new, committed presenter.

To conclude, the question was raised: what concrete steps can the people of Bocholt take to support new arrivals even better? Those present responded with clear calls to action: warmth, interaction, decentralised housing, mutual respect and an open-minded community - so that Bocholt remains a vibrant, colourful town worth living in for years to come.

Note: Further personal stories are explored in depth in the exhibition "Schwere Schritte" and in the film "Kein Land für niemand%$. Visitors can borrow the DVD from the library.

The Senior Citizens' Advisory Board

• is a non-partisan and non-denominational advocacy organisation
• consists of people with experience of voluntary work with older people
• is elected through a delegate election. All clubs, associations and groups in Bocholt active in local work with older people nominate representatives for the delegates' assembly. This assembly then elects the members of the Senior Citizens' Advisory Council from amongst its own members.
• It is elected for a term of five years; this term is linked to the electoral term of the City Council.

Statutes, Election Regulations and Rules of Procedure of the Senior Citizens' Advisory Council (as at May 2025)

Working groups: Our topics

The members of the Senior Citizens' Advisory Council regularly discuss issues that are important to older people in Bocholt in working groups. Here is an overview of the working groups in which we are active:

The Senior Citizens' Advisory Council is responsible for,

• to represent the interests of older people in Bocholt vis-à-vis the council and the local authority, as well as in the public sphere
• To develop ideas that contribute to improving the quality of life for older people
• to submit proposals to the Bocholt Town Council and the local authority on all matters affecting older people
• to work cooperatively and to contribute to good collaboration amongst all public and private organisations active in the field of care for older people.

Information from the Senior Citizens' Advisory Board

• Senior Citizens' Advisory Council at the Bocholt Clubs and Societies Fair
• Bocholt Senior Citizens' Advisory Council visits Bocholt's Belgian twin town (May 2024)
• New drinking water fountain in Bocholt town centre (April 2024)
• Senior Citizens' Advisory Council aims to attract younger members (April 2024)
• Become a neighbourhood helper (January 2024)

• Major seniors' fair in Bocholt town centre (September 2023)

• Senior Citizens' Advisory Board bids farewell to Nina Kremer (August 2023)
• Seniors' Advisory Board donates an apple tree (May 2022)
• Seniors' Advisory Board visits new funeral hall (May 2022)
• Dr Adam joins the executive board of the State Senior Citizens' Council (April 2022)
• New Bocholt Senior Citizens' Advisory Board (May 2018)